Originally posted by Aramis:
There is little to suggest, canonically, that the reserve fleets are manned by anything other than full timers.
System fleets are mentioned in HG, but are not explicitly part of MT or later canon; likewise, they are not prohibited by canon, either...
However, The MT reserve fleets are assets of the imperial navy.
If the reserve fleets are part of the Imperial Navy and staffed by full-timers, then why call them Reserve Fleets and not just normal Fleets?
As an Example. In the US Army, (I think we decided that Ground Forces Parallels were more accurate.) in the mid to late 80s, when there was still a perceived threat of war between NATO and the Soviet Union, there were several Divisions stations in Continental US. The 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) was stationed at Ft. Riley, KS. The 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (Hereafter referred to as 1ID and 5ID respectively.) was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA. There were several differences between these divisions, aside from the obvious Number. 1ID was part of VIIth US Corps, which was assigned to West Germany, in the Fulda River area. 5ID was assigned to III US Corps at Ft. Hood Texas. VII US Corps was expected to delay and stop an invasion of Western Germany and 1ID was assigned as VII Corps counter attack force. 1ID had 2 Brigades in Kansas and one deployed in Germany, plus a full set of equipment prepositioned in Germany so that within 72 hours of the start of hostilities 1ID could be counter attacking Soviet forces. All three Combat brigades were full time Active Duty. 5ID stationed at Ft. Polk was organized along more traditional lines with 2 Brigades active duty (one Mech and one Armored) and the third brigade was the 256th Infantry Bde (Mechanized), LA National Guard, otherwise known as a round out or capstone brigade. III US Corps was the US Strategic Reserve and movement orders and plans were designed around a 30-90 day deployment window, not be ready to leave at a moments notice. (Boy did that become obvious when elements of III Corps were told to prepare for movement to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield.) 1ID had to be ready to leave, right now.
1ID got new equipment, generally as it became available, usually right after the units that were on the expected front lines. (Right after those units already deployed in Germany and South Korea.) 5ID got new equipment after everyone else was already at full strength. (For example they were still using M60 tanks more than 2 years after 1ID finished getting their M1 tanks and 1ID got two sets of M1 tanks before 5ID got its first M1 for training.) 1ID combat elements got M16A2s the first year they were deployed, 5ID some time later and elements of III Corps were still using M16A1s 5 years later.
So while 5ID filled a strategic reserve role and 1ID was a rapid deployment frontline division it was still 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) not 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized, Reserve).
If the fleet is manned full time that also means it will be performing the same full time missions, even if it isn't expected to be on the jagged end of the bottle at the opening of hostilities. All manned fleets will be involved in showing the flag, as guard ships, being used as a show of force, anti-piracy patrols, and conducting exercises and squadron jumps. The reason is that all of these operations are good training. It helps keep the locals properly impressed, and Pirates properly suppressed. A unit that sits around in its butt, instead of training, will not be ready for combat when it is actually called. It also would allow your newest most capable units to be concentrated in areas at the jagged end of the bottle.
Besides to a typical Corsair, SDB, local despot, etc. (the guy on the wrong end of the spinal weapon) does it really matter what kind of ship is behind that spinal? What is the practical difference, unless you yourself happen to also be in a capital ship, between a TL-14 17,500ton Light Cruiser, a TL-13 60,000ton Heavy Cruiser or a TL-15 500,000ton Drednaught? Outside of capital ship combat, they all fill the same role. So there should be a difference between a "Reserve Squadron" and a "Regular Squadron." Though the difference might be as simple as the funding source, I find that harder to swallow.
Now according to the Rebellion Sourcebook, pg. 27.
Reserve fleets are equipped with obsolescent-but still useful-starships which have been retired from frontline Imperial service; they are staffed by personnel serving in the Reserves (technically in the service of the Imperium, but without the status of strict Imperial Navy duty).
That sounds like traditional part time reservists to me. I knew I read something that made me think part time somewhere.
With regards to system squadrons, on page 29 of the same book.
System Squadrons are not assigned to any fleet. Instead of such an assignment, they are based in a home system with tech code Early Stellar (Tech Level 9+) and moderate population (Population 4+).
It also states that System Squadrons are not jump capable.
It does state that Colonial Squadrons are assigned to the Reserve Fleets. Yet distinguishes between Imperial Reserve and Colonial.
So my interpretation is there are actually three levels of command yet 4 levels of squadrons. The Reserve fleets are comprised of Imperial Reserve squadrons and Colonial Squadrons. I like the Colonial Squadrons being locally raised and locally answerable unless or until time of crisis.
Shattered Ships of the Fighting Imperium doesn't list Reserve just Colonial. Neither of these references specifically lists locally raised squadrons. So in MT the only naval vessels that are not under direct Imperial control are the system squadrons, which don't have jump capable ships.
In CT the levels of command are not well defined, and the only place where I can currently find differences are LBB5 Char Gen, which lists Imperial, Subsector, and Planetary. It doesn't break down areas of responsibility, command structure or organization.
